Learn more about the top candidates running for Tennessee governor

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Republican gubernatorial candidates Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Beth Harwell and Bill Lee debate one another at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville on June 20, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Republican GOP Candidates Beth Harwell and Bill Lee are introduced to the crowd for the debate series at the Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Republican GOP Candidate Diane Black prepares her notes at the start of the debate series at the Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Republican GOP Candidate Randy Boyd is introduced to the crowd for the debate series at the Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Mark Russell, executive editor of The Commercial Appeal, left, talks with gubernatorial candidate and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018. Russell served as moderator of the forum at The Peabody Hotel. The forum was sponsored by The Commercial Appeal and the Tennessee Bar Association. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Mark Russell, executive editor of The Commercial Appeal, left, talks with gubernatorial candidate and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018. Russell served as moderator of the forum at The Peabody Hotel. The forum was sponsored by The Commercial Appeal and the Tennessee Bar Association. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Mark Russell, executive editor of The Commercial Appeal, left, talks with gubernatorial candidate and House Speaker Beth Harwell during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018. Russell served as moderator of the forum at The Peabody Hotel. The forum was sponsored by The Commercial Appeal and the Tennessee Bar Association. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Gubernatorial candidate and House Speaker Beth Harwell speaks during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018, at The Peabody Hotel. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd, a Knoxville entrepreneur and former state economic development commissioner, speaks during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018, at The Peabody Hotel. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd, a Knoxville entrepreneur and former state economic development commissioner, speaks during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018, at The Peabody Hotel. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Gubernatorial candidate and former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, right, speaks with Mark Russell, executive editor of The Commercial Appeal, during a forum that included four of the six major gubernatorial candidates June 14, 2018. Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Beth Harwell answers a question during the Leadership Tennessee's Gubernatorial Forum at Lipscomb University May 15, 2018 in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd answers a question during the Leadership Tennessee's Gubernatorial Forum at Lipscomb University May 15, 2018 in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Craig Fitzhughl listens to a question during the Leadership Tennessee's Gubernatorial Forum at Lipscomb University May 15, 2018 in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennesseans will decide Thursday who will represent the Republican and Democratic parties in the November general election to succeed Gov. Bill Haslam, a popular two-term governor who has led the state for the past eight years.

Early voting has ended and polls open Thursday at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT and close at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

Here's your quick guide to the top-tier candidates vying for the job.

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An overview of the candidates who have launched a campaign for governor.
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Brenda Tindall hugs U.S. Rep. Diane Black as she talks with Chuck Shelton at a gathering to promote her GOP campaign for Tennessee governor on June 24, 2018, at Johnson's Antique Car Barn in Franklin. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

U.S. Rep. Diane Black talks with Ken Gaines at a gathering to promote her GOP campaign for Tennessee governor race at Johnson's Antique Car Barn in Franklin on June 24, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

U.S. Representative Diane Black bows her head in pray before the meal is served at a gathering to promote her GOP campaign for Tennessee Governor race at the Johnson's Antique Car Barn in Franklin, Tenn., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Supporters gather to meet with U.S. Representative Diane Black says the pledge allegiance at a gathering to promote her GOP campaign for Tennessee Governor race at the Johnson's Antique Car Barn in Franklin, Tenn., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

U.S. Representative Diane Black talks to supporters at a gathering to promote her GOP campaign for Tennessee Governor race at the Johnson's Antique Car Barn in Franklin, Tenn., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Diane Black sings the national anthem at the Williamson County Republican Party's annual Reagan Day Dinner on Feb. 23, 2018, in Franklin. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Sen. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, listens as Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, discusses a proposal sponsored by Black in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 8, 2008, in Nashville. The committee approved the resolution that would nullify a 2000 ruling by the state Supreme Court that the Tennessee Constitution offers greater protection of abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution. Mark Humphrey / AP

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, listens to a question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 15, 2011. From left are Boehner, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va. Evan Vucci / AP

Forty-three years after his injuries in Vietnam, Sgt. Doug LeTourneau received the Purple Heart from U.S. Rep. Diane Black on Nov. 11, 2011. Family and fellow soldiers came to the event from several states. File / Gallatin News

Sen. Diane Black of Hendersonville and Sen. David Fowler of Signal Mountain confer as debate continues on an ethics bill on the floor in the state Senate in April 2005. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd speaks to reporters after taking the first delivery of Volkswagen's new Atlas SUV in Chattanooga on May 18, 2017. Boyd put a deposit down for the new SUV when he was the state's economic development commissioner in 2015. Erik Schelzig/AP

Randy Boyd's, Gov. Bill Haslam's special adviser for higher education, speaks about the future initiatives he has planned for higher education in Tennessee during an editorial board meeting at The Tennessean offices on Sept. 4, 2013, in Nashville. Karen Kraft / The Tennessean

Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd speaks at a candidate forum at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena on May 15, 2018, in Nashville. Leadership Tennessee was the presenting sponsor of the forum. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Randy Boyd, founder, president and chairman of Radio Fence Corp. in Knoxville, watches a dog named Carroll eat from the company's new electronic feeding system May 9, 2001. The machine allows pet owners to program full meals and small treats for their pets throughout the day Wade Payne / AP

Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd speaks to Gov. Bill Haslam, Hankook Vice Chairman and CEO S.H. John Suh and Hankook Tire America Corp. President Hee Se Ahn at a news conference at the state Capitol building on April 13, 2016, in Nashville. Mark Zaleski / For The Tennessean

Republicans Bill Lee and Randy Boyd snap a selfie of themselves before the start of the gubernatorial forum on education at Belmont University in Nashville on Jan. 23, 2018. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Education: University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Science; University of Oklahoma, master's

Occupation: Chairman, CEO and majority shareholder of Radio Systems Corp., the parent company of PetSafe, Invisible Fence and Sport Dog. Former Tennessee Economic and Community Development commissioner.

Family: Wife Jenny, two sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter

Faith: Erin Presbyterian Church, Knoxville

Key endorsements: 120 city and county mayors and more than 50 law enforcement officials, presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and sportsman Bill Dance

Beth Harwell

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House Speaker Beth Harwell gavels in the joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly before Gov. Bill Haslam delivers his State of the State address at the Tennessee state Capitol on Jan. 29, 2018, in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Republican gubernatorial candidate Beth Harwell speaks at a candidate forum at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena on May 15, 2018, in Nashville. Leadership Tennessee was the presenting sponsor of the forum. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally hugs House Speaker Beth Harwell as former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh stands by during Sen. Douglas Henry's visitation at the state Capitol Legislative Library on March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

Rep. Beth Harwell, the newly elected House Republican nominee for speaker by the State House Republican Caucus, talks with the media with Rep. Glen Casada, right, at the AT&T building in Nashville on Nov. 18, 2010. Sanford Myers/The Tennessean

Rep. Beth Harwell, left, laughs with supporter Julie Howell, a member of the Nashville Republican Women's Club, after the State House Republican Caucus elected her as the House Republican nominee for speaker at the AT&T building in Nashville on Nov. 18, 2010. Sanford Myers/The Tennessean

Nashville Rep. Beth Harwell is sworn in by Justice Gary Wade as the first female House speaker in the legislature's history. The vote put the Republicans in control of the state legislature. Larry McCormack/Tennessean

With former Speaker Kent Williams behind her, Nashville Rep. Beth Harwell speaks to the House chamber after she was voted in as the first female House speaker in the legislature's history. The vote put the Republicans in control of the state legislature. Larry McCormack/Tennessean

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam announces his plan for putting a constitutional amendment before voters about the way judges are selected at a news conference at the state Capitol in Nashville on Jan. 25, 2012. The proposal is supported by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, right, and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville. Erik Schelzig/AP

Beth Harwell is congratulated by a well-wisher after the first day of the legislative session at the Tennessee state Capitol on Jan. 8, 2013, in Nashville. Harwell was named again to be speaker of the house. Dipti Vaidya/The Tennessean

Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean talk with each other before making an announcement that UBS is expanding its operations in Nashville at the state Capitol on Aug. 28, 2013, in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

House Speaker Beth Harwell speaks during a news conference at the Right Women Right Now conference held by the Republican State Leadership Committee on Legislative Plaza on Sept. 10, 2013, in Nashville. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

House Speaker Beth Harwell, middle, listens during a news conference at the Right Women Right Now conference by the Republican State Leadership Committee on Legislative Plaza on Sept. 10, 2013, in Nashville. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Governor-elect Bill Lee, left, and his wife, Maria, and Governor Bill Haslam and his wife, Crissy, walk together to a joint press conference Nov. 7, 2018 at the Tennessee State Capitol. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

Tennessee Gov.-Elect Bill Lee, second from right, attends the celebration of life for William "Carter" Ross at Longhollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville Dec. 22, 2018. Ross, a Marine and Hendersonville resident, is believed to be among those declared dead after fighter jets collided and crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Japan's coast on Dec. 6. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

Republican Tennessee Governor candidate Bill Lee and U.S. Rep. and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn celebrate at his primary election night party at the Factory in Franklin, Tenn. on August 2, 2018. Shelley Mays/ The Tennessean

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee speaks during the candidate forum at Lipscomb's Allen Arena on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Nashville. Leadership Tennessee was the presenting sponsor of the forum. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Father of the year recipient Bill Lee is with his children, Caleb, Jacob, Sarah Kate and Jessica, during the American Diabetes and the Middle Tennessee Father's Day awards in Nashville on June 7, 2007. Mandy Lunn/The Tennessean

The Rural Tennessee gubernatorial forum was held April 17, 2018, at Lane College. Candidates Craig Fitzhugh, Randy Boyd, Bill Lee and Karl Dean participated in the forum and answered questions about topics such as education and the urban-rural divide. Kenneth Cummings/The Jackson Sun

A supporter whispers to Bill Lee, gubernatorial candidate, as he signs one of his books following a town hall meeting at SoKno Market in South Knoxville Thursday, June 28, 2018. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Republicans Bill Lee and Randy Boyd snap a selfie of themselves before the start of the gubernatorial forum on education at Belmont University in Nashville on Jan. 23, 2018. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and former first lady of Tennessee Andrea Conte talk with Karl Dean and others at the Tennessee Democratic Party Three Star Dinner at the Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon on June 16, 2018. Price Chambers / For The Tennessean

From left, Craig Fitzhugh (D), Randy Boyd (R), Bill Lee (R) and Karl Dean (D) prepare for the start of the gubernatorial forum on rural Tennessee issues at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., on April 17, 2018. Yoshi James / The Commercial Appeal

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean speaks at the candidate forum at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena on May 15, 2018, in Nashville. Leadership Tennessee was the presenting sponsor of the forum. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

From left, Loretta Lynn, Jack White and Mayor Karl Dean wait for the Music City Walk of Fame ceremony to begin. Both artists were recognized with the unveiling of a commemorative sidewalk marker June 4, 2015, in Nashville. John Partipilo / The Tennessean

Dierks Bentley, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, former Nashville mayor and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Del McCoury wave their towels before Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 27, 2018, in Nashville. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean releases a lake sturgeon during a ceremony to reintroduce the fish into the Cumberland River near the Shelby Bottoms Park Nature Center on April 17, 2009. Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tennessean

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Craig Fitzhugh speaks at the candidate forum at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena on May 15, 2018, in Nashville. Leadership Tennessee was the presenting sponsor of the forum. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

House Speaker Kent Williams congratulates Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, chairman of the House finance committee, after the state budget passed during a session of the House of Representatives on June 4, 2000, in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt draws a laugh from lawmakers as she and her 2007 NCAA national championship team are honored in the House of Representatives on April 25, 2007, in Nashville. With Summitt are Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville, left; Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, second from right; and Rep. Lois DeBerry, D-Memphis. Mark Humphrey/AP

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh claps along with students from Hume-Fogg Academic High School observing the National Day of Observance against Gun Violence on March 14, 2018, on the steps of the Capitol in Nashville. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh looks over some fresh produce at H.G. Hills Urban Market after walking down from Legislative Plaza with representatives of the Tennessee Obesity Taskforce. The walk — the store's location on Church Street is several blocks from Legislative Plaza — illustrates the difficulties that Tennesseans living in food deserts face in buying healthy foods. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Craig Fitzhugh stands with his wife, Pam, as he announces his candidacy for governor at their home in Ripley, Tenn., on Aug. 2, 2017. "She is my backbone and support," he says. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh and other lawmakers listen to Gov. Bill Haslam address the General Assembly in a joint special session to kick off debate on the Insure Tennessee plan on Feb. 2, 2015. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

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